Cricket matches attract vendors come from across the country

Mohali: If you see the same faces of a vendor outside stadium during a match in the country then won’t be surprised. The people selling the Indian flags, caps and fancy items, worn by spectators during the match, follow the Indian team wherever the match is held in the country.

“We were in Dharmasala and Delhi before this match. Now, after this, we willmove to Ranchi,” said Sonu, a roadside vendor. Sonu comes from Panipat in Haryana. He is selling Indian flags, Tri-coloured bands, caps and fancy hair-styles which he calls Murga and Malinga. “I reached here at 8 am and hope to make around Rs 2,000 by the evening” he added.

Poonam Rishi who is here for the business has come from Delhi. “I operate a small stall in Delhi. The matches are a good time to make fortune. We sell the items at three to four times the price at which we purchase,” said Rishi. She also added that in some places they also lose some money.

Rishi on asking the problems which she faces, said, “We do not face any problem by the local dispensation but while travelling in the railways, The RPF troubles us again and again. The checking is done again and again to harass us. To avoid this, we bribe them. We pay them Rs 200 or 300.”

People not only from the northern part but from other parts also follow the team to make fortune. “With them even the local vendors make profit on the day of match. “ Nishan, a local vendor selling sugarcane juice, has shifted his stall from Phase1 to Phase 8 for the occasion.